Industry Guideline for Paper & Board in Food Contact - CPI ...

250 Avenue Louise INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION
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OF PAPER AND BOARD CONVERTERS
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IN EUROPE aisbl
For Immediate Release Brussels, 4 th May 2011
Food contact: Self-regulation for paper and board industry
Yesterday, at the European Parliament, the International Confederation of paper and board
Converters in Europe (CITPA) and the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI)
,presented the voluntary ‘Industry Guideline for the Compliance of Paper & Board Materials
and Articles for Food Contact’.
The event was hosted by MEP Ms. Pilar Ayuso (EPP-DE), member of the Parliament’s
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee who said it was important to know
what the industry has done in the field of food safety.
Press Release
The Guideline, which has been peer reviewed by PIRA International, refers to those aspects
of quality assurance which are of most significance to ensure that paper and board meets
the quality standards appropriate to their intended use in food contact. “Safety of food is a
pre-eminent concern, the paper and board manufacturing and converting sector
recognises this concern and gives top priority to the safety of the materials and articles it
manufactures and supplies” said John Swift, Chair of the Cross Industry Group responsible for
the drafting of the Industry Guideline. He added that “for the first time, all the components
needed to facilitate compliance with EU legislation were included in one text”.
A challenge in demonstrating the commitment to supplying safe products is to demonstrate
compliance with relevant legislation. The sector has cooperated at National Government
and EU level for many years, and the Industry Guideline proposes a route for compliance
with EC regulation 1935/2004, which covers all materials which come in direct contact with
food.
The lack of a specific measure for paper and board has created a disadvantage in the
market because paper and board materials appear to be “unregulated”. So, “if the
European Commission decides to start drafting a specific measure for paper and board
materials, we have the ground prepared to do so” said Mr. Bengt Nordin, CITPA President, in
his closing remarks. Mr Nordin also presented the benefits of the Industry and pointed out the
challenge of demonstrating the safety of paper and board. Mr Nordin said to be proud to
announce that “the industry is monitoring the implementation of the Industry Guideline and
so far, the results have shown a large acceptance within paper and board companies”.
Industry Guideline for the compliance of paper and board materials and articles for food contact
Peer Review
Contact:
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For more information, please contact Maria Casado, CITPA Managing Director at + 32 (0)2 626 98 38 or info@citpaeurope.org
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Notes to the Editor
CITPA - Confederation of International Converters of Paper and Board in Europe, established in 1961, represents the
interests of the European Paper and Board Converting Industry which covers a wide variety of converted paper
products including packaging, beverages cartons, corrugated board, speciality papers and many more. CITPA
membership comprises European level associations such as ACE, EUROSAC, FEFCO, Euro Wax Pack, FINAT, ECTA
and ECMA as well as national federations such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Portugal and
associate members, ProCarton, PaperImpact and CepiEurokraft.
Website:www.citpa-europe.org
CEPI aisbl - The Confederation of European Paper Industries.
The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) is a Brussels-based non-profit making organisation regrouping
the European pulp and paper industry and championing this industry’s achievements and the benefits of its
products. Its mission is to promote the members’ business sector by taking specific actions notably, by monitoring
and analysing activities and initiatives in the areas of industry, environment, energy, forestry, recycling, fiscal policies
and competitiveness in general. Through CEPI, the paper industry increases its visibility and acts on emerging issues,
making expert and constructive contributions on behalf of the industry.
Its collective expertise provides a unique source of information both for and on the industry; coordinating essential
exchanges of experience and knowledge among its members, the ability to provide technical assistance to
legislators and to identify independent experts on specific issues. Through its 19 member countries (17 European
Union members plus Norway and Switzerland) CEPI represents some 700 pulp, paper and board producing
companies across Europe, ranging from small and medium sized companies to multi-nationals, and 1020 pulp and
paper mills. Together they represent 24% of world production.
Website: www.cepi.org